Heraldo Rallies HCDCC Resistance
Looks like our very own Heraldo, in his quest to earn the title King of Humboldt Bloggers, is making progress. Looks like his blog has become a rallying point for at least some of those not too happy with the current Humboldt County Democratic Central Commmittee, even getting a plug in this recent letter to the editor in the Eureka Reporter. I'm sooo jealous.
Oh well. I've had my fifteen minutes of fame before. I'm sure I'll have it again.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 8:50 AM
44 comments
44 Comments:
where exactly his thread which is the rallying point of hcdcc unhappyness? didnt see it on heraldo's blog.
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"where exactly".
It should be in there somewhere. I'm sure Heraldo can point it out.
Richard, the truth is the same HCDCC that rebuffed your request for an endorsement also voted overwhelmingly to seat Shane as a voting member. It's too bad those who fail to win office, and their supporters, need to keep trying to tear down their own party. Get over it and get involved. HCDCC has had plenty of positive feedback recently and can always use more volunteers.
Woo-Hoo! Look out Fred, I'm gaining on you.
I remember that thread from quite a while ago. It was shortly after the primary in June.
Here's the link.
Its about time this seedy aspect of our local party is getting aired in public. The current committee in infested with vermin and its time to get rid of them since they are about as "democratic" as a paint can.
Can anyone tell me what Humboldt County Democratic Central Commmittee stands for if they don't stand for local Democrats?
Heraldo writes, "Woo-Hoo! Look out Fred, I'm gaining on you.".
Which reminds me, it's about time for Hank and the rest at the North Coast Journal to start working on their "2007 State of the Humboldt Blogs" story.
It was January of this year when they did the cover story on Humboldt Bloggers and the Blogging Bloggers Blog Them story. It's about time for an update.
Of course, Hank regularly mentions some of the local blogs in his Town Dandy column, but perhaps an overall update is in order?
1. HCDCC does stand for local Democrats and cannot endorse anyone except registered Democrats.
2. http://www.humboldtdemocrats.org
can tell you a great deal about HCDCC and it's positions. You don't even have to give up your cowardly anonymity!
Perhaps because it was futile to show up carol ann - perhaps that is why the local dems are so split...it is because 10:30 called it like it is.
Split? Not happening. Sure, not every vote is unanimous, but HCDCC votes are generally pretty lop-sided. Maybe you should consider changing parties, 10:30 and 12:54.
Carol ann and greg....whatever.
Of course you will never admit that what you and some of your buddies on the committee have done has harmed and split the local dems. Never thought you would.
But the rest of us know better.
I am niether 10:30 or 12:54, but why should any democrat leave the party when he thinks that the leadership right now is stinking anti-democratic and elitist. I have a suggestion for you greg, why don't you change parties? I am sticking to the dem values that I have had for over 40 years and what I have taught my family.
1:53, you will have to be more specific. Try as I might to resist conspiracy theories, we have info leading us to think a somewhat co-ordinated effort is underway to discredit our highly-effective local Dem central committee. The more effective the committee becomes, the more noise some people will no doubt make. I don't know if it's people from other political parties or Dems who did not get party support.
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Richard, in my own mind it was not about you at all. Nancy Flemming was not acceptable for various reasons but was going to be a tough candidate with money and experience. I did not and do not think you would have won against either Nancy or Bonnie in a runoff, and since Bonnie is far preferable to Nancy, I chose to do what I could to help Bonnie. HCDCC did not make an endorsement at all as a committee, and it is wrong of you to state otherwise, but it was well known at the time of HCDCC's endorsement meeting that major Dems from Congressman Thompson, Senator Chesbro and Assemblymember Berg were all endorsing Bonnie Neely. Neely won, making a lot of Democrats happy along with a lot of Republicans. Nothing personal is or ever was intended. HCDCC members vote their consciences on behalf of their community, just as I know was the case when you served on the committee. Since when does active pary involvement mean you should not vote your conscience?
Republicans have long known they could divide and conquer the diverse Democratic party. To me it is important to avoid disunity while still feeling free to disagree. That is my view of democracy. What's happening for Christmas?
Yes, Carol Ann they're not real democrats because they did not participate in the bake sale and you are not going to endorse them for homecoming queen. Got it. Anybody who thinks being a democrat is enough to qualify you to run as a democrat better think again.
I think the bottom line here is that NOBODY wanted to see Nancy Flemming win that seat...
If that meant endorsing the lesser of the two "evils" (in Bonnie's case, far lesser) than so be it. Nothing against any democratic candidates, but the goal was to keep Nancy out of office.
Period.
And thank god she didn't win. I'd take just about anybody other than Nancy. It's amazing she received as many votes are she did after the whole Measure J thing years ago...
Carol wrote, "Gee, thanks alot, Fred, for stirring this beehive up.".
As I always say, Carol; No thanks necessary. I'm here to help.
Bonnie Neely should change parties. Period!
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HCDCC won't campaign for a HCDCC Democrat who they think won't win against a Republican so they back the Republican. And this is our Humboldt Democratic Party in action?
Richard, help Dems take back their own HCDCC from these pols who have no integrity--going for winning no matter what the cost to Democratic Party loyalty.
Richard Marks' appointment to the Mayor Bass' 2nd Ward council selection committee shows me he is more of a representative of the Democrats than any of the rest of the HCDCC.
What's that status of the state democratic investigation of the DCC? When can we expect to see the bums thrown out?
7:26am-That about sums it up. Cut and dried.
"HCDCC won't campaign for a HCDCC Democrat who they think won't win against a Republican so they back the Republican. And this is our Humboldt Democratic Party in action?"
Steve Lewis
"Give me a break ... Richard campaigned for a republican, Mayor Bass, when there was an incumbent democrat, former Mayor LaVallee. Geesh."
Care to comment, Richard?
Identify yourself and I will comment further. It is no secret that I campaigned for the best candidate for Mayor. And she won.
By the way: Carol Ann is right, we hashed this subject out over a month ago, and it is time for me to let it go. What is done can not be changed. So to my fellow Democrats, we need to unite/not fight. Merry X-mas. Hey Corona woman. Is that beer on ice?
"Democrats, we need to unite/not fight"
Music to my ears - Merry Christmas, Richard.
Thanks for the link to Heraldo's post...
Its a shame that Grag and Carol minimize the disaster the local HCDCC core group has made of the Democratic Party.
I would like to know what disenfranchised Democrats are going to do about it-its obvious we are talking about more than Richard and Steve. I know many Democrats who are fed up but not attending meetings (as usual) for a variety of reasons. Some people have family/work/personal obligations and don't allow time to either attend HCDCC meetings or blog all day.
Think outside your box Greg and Carol.
Shannon Gillespie is my new hero! All it takes is 20 signatures to get on the ballot for the Democratic Central Committee? Why aren't more people running to unseat the current ineffective yahoos on the HCDCC? Shannon was only a few votes behind the HCDCC vice-chair in the June 2006 election, after all. And if you think the HCDCC is doing a good job currently, then you really are in need of a serious wake-up call! (Just ask the candidates who ran in the November election what they think of the HCDCC - it isn't positive, trust me.)
By the way, why is Carol - who claims to be a Democrat - talking trash about Shannon Gillespie and Jake Pickering, anyway? It couldn't be because Pickering & Gillespie have done more for the Democratic Party locally and nationally than the entire group of out-of-touch HCDCC members put together? Who cares about HCDCC meetings in the first place? Most people don't choose to waste their time being ineffective and irrelevant (like the HCDCC).
Gillespie and Pickering? I've never heard of Gillespie myself. If he'd been active within the local Democratic Party, I would think the local Dems might of heard of him.
I don't know much about Pickering, as far as local activity. All I know is what I've read from letters he's sent to the local papers (and me).
I'll withhold judgement cause I've never met the guy but I felt I was doing him a favor by not publishing his letters here. They're not the kind of stuff that wins the minds of Joe and Jill Sixpack.
"Most people don't choose to waste their time being ineffective and irrelevant (like the HCDCC).".
I'd put it a bit differently: Most people would rather do other things than get involved in politics, so they don't bother joining their local county central committee, or even pay much attention to it.
That is, until something doesn't go their way. Then they complain that someone didn't do this or that or, someone needs to DO SOMETHING! Of course, they're rarely willing to do anything themselves.
I've seen it many times.
And I'm not talking about Richard Marks.
Carol ann - thought you already raised your family. You seem old enough to be raising grandkids though.
It has been a couple of days, but I would like to reply to 10:29 above:
Every one of the people who regularly attend and support the Democratic Party in Humboldt County have family, friends, work, and other obligations to fulfill in addition to volunteering as Democrats. None have the luxury of blogging all day, though several sit in front of computer screens all day and keep a pretty good eye on the blogs. Only someone who does not know us would think Carol and I had raised our kids already. The crack about being old enough to have grandkids is correct in my case. We are busy family people and long-time businessowners. We have a stake in Humboldt County and our kids and grandkids will inherit the USA from us and our generation. So, we are involved.
Why do this Connor couple think they are entitled to speak for all Democrats. Was either Connor actually elected to the HCDCC? No, they weren't. They were selected for office by their fellow HCDCC insiders. They speak for noone but themselves. And clearly, they are a couple of the members on the HCDCC who should be removed next election (if there is one). It's kind of obvious why the Connors can't stand Shannon Gillespie - it's because Shannon was actually elected by the people, unlike them. And just because Greg is too dull and uninformed to even know Shannon Gillespie's correct gender is enough reason for Greg to retire, or go get a new pair of prescription glasses at the very least.
I know Shannon, and she's much more impressive politically than any of the weak, lame, ineffective flip-floppers on the so-called Democratic Central Committee. She's also much younger (which obviously is a problem for some.....) If the HCDCC is so effective (as Greg claims), then why are so many Democrats locally ready for new blood and ideas on the HCDCC. You can't spin it Greg and Carol Ann. You blew the Nov.7 election. That's just simply the way it is - deal with it. You people are so thin-skinned you could be Republicans!
P.S. - Carol Ann, run to the light!
Carol Ann? The little blonde girl from the Poltergeist movies is now claiming to speak for local Democrats? I knew the HCDCC was in trouble, but I had no idea! Why are Greg & Carol Ann so negative towards Shannon Gillespie and Jake Pickering? I don't know Shannon, but I know Jake from his writings. And he's a talented (and effective) political writer, to say the least. Too bad he's not on the HCDCC....... Then maybe they would actually be able to win a local election. By the way, Greg & Carol Ann - how do you explain your local failure on November 7? (Save the spin for your little, unattended meetings.....)
I've read some of Pickering's stuff. It's much more in keeping with what I want to see from the Democratic Central Committee - resistance to the Republican Party would be nice for once. Instead of the usual DLC triangulation nonsense. I'll vote for Pickering if he runs again, since he is apparently better than what the party's usual hacks have to offer.
The local Dems do need assistance obviously. I still can't believe they didn't win control of Eureka city government. A nationwide landslide victory for Dems, except for Humboldt County? Lame with a capital "L", wouldn't you say? Anybody new would be better than what the Dems have to offer locally at this stage.
I agree with that sentiment. Obviously, Greg and Carol Ann Connors have proven with their posts on this blog that they will do just about anything to avoid the obvious, including attacking their fellow Democrats. Greg and Carol Ann are on the Democratic Central Committee, and neither one of them were elected by the public as far as I remember. They have to take responsibility for their glaring failures locally on November 7th instead of trying to shoot the messengers, people like Gillespie (who was elected by the people) and Pickering (who lost to Bruce Rupp, but still writes the best articles of any of the local Democrats). The saying goes - you "can't argue with success", but you sure can argue with failure. The HCDCC should get used to it and quit acting like a bunch of babies when people point out the obvious.
I know what you mean. Any criticism of the current bunch at the Dem Cent Committee leads to immediate attacks on the messenger. It's disgusting. I wish these people (like Greg) would put the interests of Democrats generally ahead of their own desire to maintain control of the local party. And how dare Greg and Carol go after people who are just pointing out what everyone knows already! They fell down on the job this last election. No question about it.
Don't forget Chesbro's annointing of himself into the Assembly when Berg is term-limited. That's presumptious. Didn't Chesbro just do 8 years in the state Senate? So much for the will of the voters and term-limits! Career politicians (especially bad ones like Cheesbro) need to get a real job.
Did you know that the Dems Central Committee named Wes Chesbro their 2006 Democrat of the year? Not much to choose from, apparently. If Chesbro is the best local Dems have to offer, they're in more trouble than I thought.
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